This morning found me creeping around my own house, like a thief in night.
It was about 0200, and the issue is that this week, we are 'dog-sitting' a friend's Labradoodle.
Yes I know...
This walking carpet loves women. He loves his 'Mistress' (currently living it up on her yacht) and he loves my wife. Not sure he feels the same about his 'Mistress's husband, and I know he does not the same about me. Every time he sees me, senses me or hears me, he goes into one. Deep, repeated barking. In short he is a noisy bastard, and he is driving me to distraction - and that is why I am creeping around my own house like a cat-burglar trying to avoid a dog.
Somehow I mange to leave the house without alerting 'Cerberus', and am soon wending my way through the deserted countryside for another go at the Bucks.
There has been a flurry of activity on our little stalking "WhatsApp" group, and most of the rest of the team will be deployed today.
0400 finds me in my shooting-tower (I am bigging this up - it is about five feet off the ground). I unpack the Vorn, secure my (patent pending) shooting platform, ready the rifle and most importantly, check my wraps and flask.
It is still dark and so the TI gets to do its thing. I really must learn how to take 'photos' with it. I can see where I have parked my truck, and the engine and rear axle area are glowing. It is this I wanted to 'photograph'.
As I sweep left, I see a deer. I can make it out as Roe, and then as a Buck. I watch as he (sensing something is amiss), makes his way to within 6 feet of my location. It is wonderful. Eventually, he bounds off, 'barking as he goes'. So I still get to experience the relentless barking, I was so studiously trying to avoid when I left the house.
At least one of our team is also deployed, and consequently there are some early comms. on the 'WhatsApp'. I declare my intention to sit until 0900, and then vacate the area to make way for another of our wee team.
I notice a Muntjac Doe (sadly she also notices me) approaching from my right. She darts back into the woods and the TI picks up her and her Buck. Their barking adds to my 'noisy' morning.
I then just sit, and enjoy the arrival of the day.
At about 0630 I notice a family group of Roe.
They are about 180 yards off. One Buck, two Does and a Follower. I have been dicking about with the Compass App. on my phone. I take a bearing and 'lock it in' - something I only learned to do about ten minutes ago.
Thanks to my (patent pending) shooting platform, I feel confident in the shot. I am using home-loaded lead (let's not go there shall we?) and he drops.
The two Does and the Follower then (remarkably slowly and seemingly unperturbed) make their way off, and exit stage right.
I have taken the bearing (I had trouble locating a Buck earlier this week) and so after the appropriate delay, I head off. In spite of having locked the deer in with that bearing, I do not trust it. I am pulled (as if by an invisible hand) off to the right. I arrive as where I am 'convinced' my Buck will be. Needless to say it is no such thing. I recalculate (this time trusting the compass) and there he be.
I drag him back to the shooting-tower, and head off to fetch the truck.
Ten minutes later I am conducting the suspended gralloch (with my freshly sharpened knives).
Fifteen minutes laters I am p**sing blood from two of my fingers...
Not sure how, but I managed to slice the back of two fingers on my left hand. That will learn me.
Something one has done innumerable times before and still you manage to self-harm.
So we turn to the title of this wee thread.
Hindsight.
Why did I call this drivel (rather cleverly I thought) hindsight?
Because this was in my gralloch kit. The gralloch kit that was at my feet. You can see, it is pristine. In fact it has never been opened...
Yeah. Hindsight.
So do mind how you go out there; and if you do have H&S kit, do not be like me...
...do use it.
Good morning.
It was about 0200, and the issue is that this week, we are 'dog-sitting' a friend's Labradoodle.
Yes I know...
This walking carpet loves women. He loves his 'Mistress' (currently living it up on her yacht) and he loves my wife. Not sure he feels the same about his 'Mistress's husband, and I know he does not the same about me. Every time he sees me, senses me or hears me, he goes into one. Deep, repeated barking. In short he is a noisy bastard, and he is driving me to distraction - and that is why I am creeping around my own house like a cat-burglar trying to avoid a dog.
Somehow I mange to leave the house without alerting 'Cerberus', and am soon wending my way through the deserted countryside for another go at the Bucks.
There has been a flurry of activity on our little stalking "WhatsApp" group, and most of the rest of the team will be deployed today.
0400 finds me in my shooting-tower (I am bigging this up - it is about five feet off the ground). I unpack the Vorn, secure my (patent pending) shooting platform, ready the rifle and most importantly, check my wraps and flask.
It is still dark and so the TI gets to do its thing. I really must learn how to take 'photos' with it. I can see where I have parked my truck, and the engine and rear axle area are glowing. It is this I wanted to 'photograph'.
As I sweep left, I see a deer. I can make it out as Roe, and then as a Buck. I watch as he (sensing something is amiss), makes his way to within 6 feet of my location. It is wonderful. Eventually, he bounds off, 'barking as he goes'. So I still get to experience the relentless barking, I was so studiously trying to avoid when I left the house.
At least one of our team is also deployed, and consequently there are some early comms. on the 'WhatsApp'. I declare my intention to sit until 0900, and then vacate the area to make way for another of our wee team.
I notice a Muntjac Doe (sadly she also notices me) approaching from my right. She darts back into the woods and the TI picks up her and her Buck. Their barking adds to my 'noisy' morning.
I then just sit, and enjoy the arrival of the day.
At about 0630 I notice a family group of Roe.
They are about 180 yards off. One Buck, two Does and a Follower. I have been dicking about with the Compass App. on my phone. I take a bearing and 'lock it in' - something I only learned to do about ten minutes ago.
Thanks to my (patent pending) shooting platform, I feel confident in the shot. I am using home-loaded lead (let's not go there shall we?) and he drops.
The two Does and the Follower then (remarkably slowly and seemingly unperturbed) make their way off, and exit stage right.
I have taken the bearing (I had trouble locating a Buck earlier this week) and so after the appropriate delay, I head off. In spite of having locked the deer in with that bearing, I do not trust it. I am pulled (as if by an invisible hand) off to the right. I arrive as where I am 'convinced' my Buck will be. Needless to say it is no such thing. I recalculate (this time trusting the compass) and there he be.
I drag him back to the shooting-tower, and head off to fetch the truck.
Ten minutes later I am conducting the suspended gralloch (with my freshly sharpened knives).
Fifteen minutes laters I am p**sing blood from two of my fingers...
Not sure how, but I managed to slice the back of two fingers on my left hand. That will learn me.
Something one has done innumerable times before and still you manage to self-harm.
So we turn to the title of this wee thread.
Hindsight.
Why did I call this drivel (rather cleverly I thought) hindsight?
Because this was in my gralloch kit. The gralloch kit that was at my feet. You can see, it is pristine. In fact it has never been opened...
Yeah. Hindsight.
So do mind how you go out there; and if you do have H&S kit, do not be like me...
...do use it.Good morning.
